Plans For My New Planted Tank

[k101]

Hi everyone,

Just joined the forum full of excitement about my new aquarium. I last had an aquarium ten years ago - it did OK with a nice selection of small fish and some healthy plants. This time I'm going for the best I can afford. It will be 260 litres, with good substrate, CO2 etc. I've always dreamed of a planted tank, where fish and plants get equal attention. Tank arrives tomorrow and most of the other equipment arrived already. Here's my start-up plan

1. Tank is 260 litre with Fluval 305 external filter. I'll take out the carbon in the filter
2. Lighting is 2x39W lamps. Should I add more?
3. Tetra Complet Substrate with a Dennerle under-gravel heater
4. Our water is very hard, 380ppm, so I plan to use 25% tap water and 75% RO with AquaPlus
5. Lots of plants. Ordered a package of bunched plants to start me off, hoping they will grow fast.
6. Fish-less cycle using ammonia. Should I use AquaCycle too?
7. Measure ammonia, nitrite, nitrate until the cycle is finished.
8. Add algae eating fish about 3 weeks from today, then others at weekly intervals.
9. Add more difficult plants over the coming months

Does this sound a reasonable plan?
With a fully planted tank is the fishless cycle worthwhile?
When should I start adding CO2?
My dream is a spectacular planted tank, but with a nice selection of fish too. Where can I find some nice examples to copy?

Hope I'm not running before I can walk. I've read a lot already and I'm keen to learn from you all. Hope I can contribute to the forum too. Should I post pictures as I progress?

Cheers
Keith

 

[weezawoo]

Hey have a read of this:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/
in regards to your question on cycling your planted tank!

Also I would only add the Algae eater when there is anough algae otherwise there wouldn't be anything for him to eat apart from sinking wafers!

Pictures would be great, I love seeing a tank progress from nothing to something!

 

[k101]

Thanks for the reference. Really good advice there. So no cycling, just heavy planting and fish after a few days. Sounds a whole lot easier.

The tank arrived today, so we have a busy weekend ahead!

Thanks
Keith

 

[weezawoo]

GHope it all goes well

 

[mbsqw1d]

i've heard that the under gravel heaters are close to pointless.. although i have no experience myself, hopefully someone here can clarify that - it could save you some money

I also think, that your water will soften when you inject co2 into it due to carbolic acid. I think peat and bogwood will soften it too..

 

[k101]

Too late to save money on the undergravel heater, its bought and installed. I'll watch what the hardness does - I've just put in a large piece of bogwood.

Thanks for the advice

Keith

 

[Shovelman]

Thanks for the reference. Really good advice there. So no cycling, just heavy planting and fish after a few days. Sounds a whole lot easier.

The tank arrived today, so we have a busy weekend ahead!

Thanks
Keith

You can never avoid cycling as you always need to build up your benificial bacteria, and with planted tanks its just reccomended to not worry about the fish at all and like that artice said "Get the plants Bright and Healthy". Thats mainly a hint that since you dont have any fish yet, then get your plants going strong so you dont have to worry about messing with co2 levels or what have you, when you have pricey livestock in the tank. This does not mean you can just add your stock 5 days after setup as there wont be enough bacteria to cope with the sudden introduction. Im not sure if you accidentaly worded it differantly than you meant but hope its clear! Correct me if im wrong!

 

[k101]

Thanks yes I understand, I was just a bit quick in my reply. And I've read a lot more in the forums now.

The tank is setup now, with a rock and a large piece of bogwood to test it all works. Minor flood when I didn't put the top on the filter properly, and faintly reddish water from the bogwood. But its looking good so far. Plants this weekend.

Thanks for the responses
Keith

 

[Shovelman]

Thanks yes I understand, I was just a bit quick in my reply. And I've read a lot more in the forums now.

The tank is setup now, with a rock and a large piece of bogwood to test it all works. Minor flood when I didn't put the top on the filter properly, and faintly reddish water from the bogwood. But its looking good so far. Plants this weekend.

Thanks for the responses
Keith

keep us posted! Any pictures so far?